Folding couch



No. 623,593. Patented Apr'. 25,. |899.

G. BROWN.

FOLDING CGUCH.

(Application led Oct. 29, 1898..)

(No Model.)

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die/f@ @D M 90'; 0^? aff PATENT Ormea,

GEORGE BROVN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING SPECIFIGATON forming part oi Letters COUCH.

Patent No. 623,593, dated Apr-i1 25, 1899.

Application filed October 2`9, 1898./y Serial No. 694,906i (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE BROWN, of Boston, conntyof Suolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Folding Conches, of which the following description, in connection' with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to a folding or convertible conch and is embodied in a couch having a jointed supportingframe at each end and a bed-spring extending from one frame to the other, the jointed portionsof the frame constituting lateral folding extensions which normally hang vertically at the sides of the conch, buty are capable of being brought to a horizontal position tol widen the couch and adapt it for use as a bed.

. The present invention relates mainly to the means for locking the extensions or wings in their extended position, the locking devices being independent ofeach other, sonthat either or both wings can be moved to a horizontal position, as desired, one object of the invention being to provide the conch with locking mechanism which can be easily operated from either end of the conch.

A further object of the invention is to siniplify the construction, so that the wings may be easily manipulated, while the couch may be inexpensively constructed.

A further feature of the invention consists in. providing the spring (which lis of that type in `which a number of parallel links are connected together and secured to the ends of the couch by means of spiral springs) with an additional link, so that one spiral spring will be at the extreme edge of the fixed portion of the trame and another immediately adjacent thnretoaf the extreme edge of the wing portion, bothlof said springs being connected with the same line of links, the object of this being to canse the spring as a whole to bond at a sharp angle instead of rounding over. The spring in the complete conch is intended to be covered by a cushion or mattress, the said mattress, however, not being shown herein, since it forms no part of the invention.

Figure l is a side elevation, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a couchframe embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line x2 of Fig. l, looking toward `the left; and Fig. 3 is a detail in plan, showing the means for connecting the spring with the main frame and side wings.

The main frame of the conch comprises the end members a, provided with legs a2, the said end members beingconnected together by longitudinal frame members or angle-irons b, extending from one to the other and connected therewith in anysuitable or usual way. The spring c, which consists of a number of links suitably connected together, is stretched between the said end members and is connected by means of spiral springs c2 with an gle-irons or transverse frame members c, which extend across the couch above the members b and are bolted or otherwise secured .to brackets d, which arcconnected by bolts d2 with the angle-irons b and end members a, respectively, the said brackets having strengthening-ribs d3, as shown in Figs.` l and 2. The transverse angle-irons c3 are provided with extensions c4, pivotally connected therewith, and thereby constitute jointed supportingframes for the spring, the pivotal connection being aiorded, as herein shown, through the agency of the brackets d, which arc provided with bolts CZQO, passing through suitable openings in the Wings c4 and forming hinges or pivots therefor. The spring c is also connected with the said wings, so that when the said Wings are in their horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, the full width ofy the spring is stretched and the couch is practically converted into a bed. To afford thc necessary strength, the wings cu1 at each end of the bed' are connected together by angleirons c5, extendinglongitndinally from one to the other, the said angle-irons being shown as directly secured to brackets c" and connected, as by bolts or rivets c7, with the said extensions c4. To lock the wings in either their vertical or theirhorizontal position, each wing is provided with an arm c, pivotally connected therewith at ci and supported at its opposite end in an extension d* of the bracket d, said arms extending downward toward the frame members b, to which are connected locking-levers, which cor'ipcrate with said arms, as will be described. The said arms e are provided with locking-shoulders c* and retaining-notches rf, arranged to be respectivply engaged, according to the position of ltite wings, by the locking-levers j', pivoted atf`-` on the angle-irons b, the longer ends of the levers lying in contact with the arms e, so that the said levers will tend to drop behind the shoulders e4 r into the notches e5 as the said arms are moved through the brackets. 'lhe notches e5 have inclined walls, as shown, so that they do not prevent the wings iroin being lifted, but still act to retain them vertically when the couch is folded. As shown in full lines, Fig. 2, one of the wings is in its horizontal position and the lever f is engaged 'with they shoulder e4, thus locking the said extension or wing and holding it horizontal. To fold or convert the bed into a conch, it is necessary only to lift the lever out of engagement with the shoulder, the lever being provided ici' thisl purpose with a handle When the lever is lifted, it is obvious that the wing will l by gravity, the arm c traveling through supporting bracket until the notch c5 n; ses the lever, after which the said lever ill liu-ip into the said notch and yieldingly .f d the wing in its vertical position. To convert the couch into a bed, on the other hand, it is necessary only to raise the wings, by taking hold oi' the ends thereof until they have been raised far enough to become locked, as shown in Fig". 2, the notches c5 being so shaped that the levers j will slide out of en. g.tg ment with the arms when the wings are lifted. In order that each wing may be independently locked, there is a locking-lefor cach one oi' the four frame extensions i, and they levers which are on one side of 'the eenen are arranged to cooperate, so that a movement of either lever will produce a corresponding movement of the other, whereby oneI limidle only has to be manipulated to unlock t e entire wingat one side of the couch. f herein shown, this isaccomplished bypivoi; ly connecting the levers j" together atf, so that an upward movement produced by the mmpulation of the handle f3 on either lever will be transmitted to the other and produce a corresponding movement thereof.

ln bed-springs of the class herein shown the spiral springs c2 are usually arranged at some little distance apart, generally from two te three inches, and in connecting the joined links which afford the mattress support with the jointed end members utilized in a couch ci this class the regular springs will not lie adjacent to each other where the wings ad the main portions of the frame-pieces. 'i ne ffzonsequence of this is that when thel possible at the extreme end thereof and conneeting an additional or supplemental spring c2 with the wing c4 at the extreme edge of the same, so that the springs c2 and c2 lie adjacent to each other, the said springs both being' connected by links with the same line of links,

of the jointed portion, While the spring c2 is provided with a supplemental link 021 for this purpose, as best shown in Fig. 3.

' I claiml. In a folding or convertible couch, the combination with the couch-body comprising end members and side members, Ysaid support havingstationary and movable parts pivot ally connected together; of a support extending transversely across each end member; a spring stretched from one of said supports to the other; and a locking-rod secured to the movable part of each support and projecting therefrpm toward a portion-of the frame; engaging shoulders formed on said rods; and a locking-lever for each rod, said levers being pivotally supported on the couch-frame and connected together, substantially as and for the purpose described. v

2. In a folding couch, the combination with transverse frame members each provided with one or more extensions pivotally connected therewith, of a mattress-support comprising a number of parallel links joined together, a spir'al spring at the end of each line of links to connect the mattress-support with the said transverse frame members and extensions, one of the said springs being connected to one of said parts at a point adjacent to the pivotal connection between said parts, and a supplemental spiral spring connected with the same line of links and with the other part adjacent to the point of connection bei tween said parts, substantially as and for the purpose described. l

In testimony whereof I have signed. my name to this specification in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses. f

GEORGE BROWN.

Witnesses:

HENRY J. Lrvnimoinu, NANCY P. Fein).

Correction in Letters Patent No. 623,593.

t is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 623,593, granted April 25', 1899, upon `the application of George Brown, of Boston,-,Massaehusetts, for an improvement in Folilliug Couches, im error z tppezirsv inthe printed specification requiring correction, as follows: On page 2, lineVSVfTS-SO, the commel and the clause said support having stationary and movable parts pvotally eonneeted together shouldbe stricken out and insertedvafter the Word member anal' before the semi-colon, line 81, as now numbered, same page; and that the seid Letters Patent should be read with this oorrectou therein that thel same may eonform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed` .eonntersignegh and Sealed this 20th day of November, A D., 1900.

[SEAL] THOS. RYAN,

First Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

Couutersign ed C. H. DUELL,

Commissioner of Patents. 

